Reams returns to work today after suspension: But he’s barred from making major personnel decisions

Wednesday

Apr 30, 2014 at 3:15 AM

By Casey Conleycconley@fosters.com

BRENTWOOD — Rockingham County Attorney Jim Reams is returning to work today after a six-month suspension, but he’ll be barred from making any major personnel decisions.

Under an agreement reached this week with the state Attorney General’s Office, Reams won’t be allowed to fire, demote, relocate or discipline any assistant county attorneys without approval from Attorney General Joseph Foster.

He also would need approval from Foster and the Rockingham County Commission to hire another assistant county attorney or take action against staff members within the county attorney’s office.

Last week, the N.H. Supreme Court denied the attorney general’s latest attempt to keep Reams from returning to work.

Merrimack County Judge Richard McNamara authorized the agreement in an April 29 order. It remains in effect indefinitely.

“From the start of this matter, an important goal of our office was to protect employees from retaliation or other adverse employment actions arising from their cooperation in our investigation,” Foster said in a statement Tuesday.

“By entering this agreement as an order, County Attorney Reams’ obligation to fairly treat all of his employees is clear. The order should help guarantee discrimination and retaliation will not occur,” the statement continued.

Representatives from the attorney general’s office met with employees of the Rockingham County Attorney’s Office to announce the agreement. They also asked the employees to report any “adverse employment actions” immediately.

Michael Ramsdell, Reams’ attorney, said those concerns are misplaced.

“I would point out that there has never been any finding against County Attorney Reams that he has discriminated or taken any other unlawful action against anyone,” Ramsdell said.

He confirmed Reams is returning to work today with full authority as county attorney.

Reams was suspended Nov. 6 amid an investigation into claims of inappropriate touching and harassment of female staffers within the office. He also was accused of misusing state and federal funds and other “ethical lapses.”

Reams, a Hampton Republican, was first elected in 1998. He is not seeking re-election and has maintained he did nothing illegal.

The attorney general’s office did not file criminal charges against Reams following a lengthy investigation.

“He will be back serving the people that elected him and he will be back there with full responsibility and authority as Rockingham County Attorney,” Ramsdell said.

James Boffetti, an assistant attorney general, served as acting county attorney during Reams’ suspension. He will remain in the county attorney’s office through Friday to ensure an orderly transition, according to McNamara’s order.

After that date, Foster has authority under the agreement to appoint an assistant attorney general other than Boffetti to monitor the county attorney’s office through the remainder of Reams’ term, which ends in January. That person, if assigned, could monitor and potentially supervise the county’s prosecutorial operations from within the county attorney’s office.

Although the Supreme Court denied recent attempts to keep Reams from returning to work, Foster’s petition to formally remove him is still outstanding, Ramsdell said. A trial has been set for August.